Cracks and Decay

Just do it. Just do it. “Hi.”

My heart is racing. I'm not walking to my death, just talking to a pretty girl but my brain can't tell the difference.

Luckily enough, she smiles. "Hey." The music is so loud so I have to read her lips to hear what she's saying. I continue. "I love your outfit, you look so good."

I'm not normally this forward but I got dragged to this random bar by my 'friends' who promptly split up and ditched me.

I travelled to this unfamiliar city with a group and this is my last night here before I go back home and they just leave me here without a word.

I was angry so I was about to call it quits and go home when I saw her.

She has on a tank top and flared pants in different shades of black, with stylish boots I want so bad. Her leather jacket and short hair just add to her vibe.

She is gorgeous and tall and way out of my league, totally my type. I have to try, even though I expect her to completely brush me off.

Instead, she smiles and takes my hand, pulling me closer. "Thanks, you look good too." I should hope so, considering this was one of my favorite ones (did she like it? Did it matter?)

"Thank you. This is probably a bit forward but can I get your number, and possibly get to know you?"

Her eyes instantly drop. "Sorry, I'm not really looking for anything." "Oh, no worries." I wave it off. I am disappointed but not really surprised. "Can I still talk to you though? You seem really cool and I'm not familiar with this place."

"Ah, that explains why I've never seen you before." She says, gesturing to the chair beside her. I gladly take the invitation. "Yeah, I'm here for a vacation. You're a local?" She nods. "Lived here all my life. How are you finding it?"

"It's...uh..." I didn't want to offend her if she actually liked it. I'm bored out of my mind in this town. Nothing exciting has happened to me except for her.

"Lively." She gives a knowing smile. She stands out in the dull scene. "You get used to it. I'm Aster." "Cameron."

We talk for a while about the place and people here and what I do for work (full-time med student, part-time mental breakdown). She is so smart and funny, I am internally weeping, why isn't she interested in me?

Maybe she isn't into girls but knowing my luck, I doubt it. My gaydar is perfect even if I have zero game.

I have to leave after a while to get some sleep for my trip back home so I get up reluctantly. “I'm sorry but I have to go.” “No worries.” She holds my wrist, circling my pulse with her thumb which makes me flush.

She looks up at me, smiling mischievously. “Get back safe.” I swallow. Isn't she being too cruel right now? “I will. Bye.”

If I ever come back to this hicktown, I'll ask around for her. Aster…. I hope I see her again.

_____***____

I'm woken from sleep by a large crash. I groan and pull the blankets over my head, trying to go back to sleep but it's no use, I'm wide awake. Dammit.

I sigh and get up. Time to go see what all the fuss is about. I hear another crash, closer this time, at the same time my brain is reminding me of reports of wild dogs in the area.

I quickly check my door—still locked—and find a weapon. I must look mismatched, a girl in a pink pyjamas set plus a matching bonnet to protect her braids, holding a big axe.

In any case, the axe belonged to the person who used the room before me and I'm so grateful now that they left it behind. I'll just use it to scare the dogs away, I won't have to use it for real.

I don't want to use it for real.

I sit on my bed, gripping the handle tight as I hear another crash, right outside my window. Then it goes quiet, long enough I dare to believe it's over, then something crashes through my window.

I'm on the other side of the room, away from the door as the figure unfurls to reveal a big dog. What the fuck? I am never going on vacation again. Why me? Oh my God.

It's big, so massive it almost reaches the ceiling, standing on its hind legs as its glowing eyes take me in shakily holding the axe up. It lunges for me and I swing the axe, hitting it in the neck.

The path to the door is no longer blocked and I run to it but a sharp pain hits my leg and I'm down, screaming as it bites into my leg, pulling me back.

What the fuck? I think, adminst the blood loss and the hot pain, this thing is not just an animal, as it holds me back down, wrenching the axe away as I swing it again. Then it bites into my shoulder.

I scream, again and again. It hurts, it hurts, IT HURTS. It feels like I'm subjected to a level of pain than ever created. I kick, trying to budge it off, but it doesn't move.

It pulls its head back, taking muscle with it, and I moan in agony, rolling away from it. I try to get up but it's no use. I can't move. Everything hurts. I'm going to die here.

It lunges for me again, about to tear my throat out but someone bodily pushes it out of the way. I weakly turn my head to see her fighting with the beast.

Aster. What is she doing here? Why would she be here?

If I had any strength left, I would laugh at the irony that of course the one person I asked out was involved in some supernatural mutation thing. Instead, I just black out.

____***____

I come to with intense pain wracking my body, making me groan. Why am I awake? I look around but my surroundings are sterile white and unfamiliar.

"Hey, stay still. Can you hear me?" I'm near hyperventilating at this point but I focus on the voice. An older man is looking down at me with a concerned brow.

"Are you a doctor?" I ask, he isn't wearing a lab coat but his manner and dress is practical. I'm proven right when he replies, "Close enough. Are you feeling alright?"

I don't have the energy to raise an eyebrow. "I feel like I'm about to die." "Well, you were close but we were able to stop that. Just follow instructions and you should make a full recovery."

We? "Who are you? Why am I here? Is this a hospital?" "I'll answer your questions when you're fit to receive answers. Just focus on your recovery for now.”

Well, that's fucking ominous. I'd press, but I'm drained of strength and he clearly won't answer. I just need to gather enough strength and then figure out my plan: escaping.

I have no idea what is going on and I don't really care. I just want to go home.